Scientists from the University of Amsterdam found that pregnancy changes the structure of gray matter in women. Research published Nature Communication.
The authors evaluated MRI scans of women’s brains before and after pregnancy. There was a decrease in gray matter volume in some areas of the brain in pregnant women. These changes coincided with fluctuations in the level of sex steroid hormones. The reconfiguration of gray matter mainly affected the default mode network (DMN).
This structure remains highly active even in resting mode and is closely linked to higher-order social processes, including social appreciation, social cognition, and empathy. In addition, resting functional connectivity in mothers has previously been associated with maternal behavior. The authors believe these changes are due to the fact that it is important for new mothers to focus on and understand their child’s needs and emotions.
The scientists found no significant differences in diffusion rates or white matter volume between groups of pregnant and non-pregnant women. This indicates that the anatomy of the female white matter remains stable throughout pregnancy. In addition, the metabolites and ratios of the nervous system remained unchanged.